Glenn Ukkestad

Glenn Maynard "Mush" Ukkestad, age 81, died Friday, March 30, 2012 at the Good Shepherd Nursing Home, Rushford, MN where he had resided since December, 2010. Mush was born October 22, 1930 in LaCrosse, WI to Theodore Ukkestad and Julia Oleson Ukkestad and was the youngest of five children.He grew up in Rushford and was baptized and confirmed at the Rushford Norwegian Lutheran Church and graduated from Rushford High School in 1948. During and after high school he worked on areas farms and later for Tri-County Electric Association. On January 16, 1951 he enlisted in the Marine Corp and served during the Korean War and was honorably discharged January 26, 1954. During that time he served aboard ship during the Suez crisis. While in Africa he marched in the Inaugural parade of President Tubman in Monrovia, Liberia. On June 22, 1956 he married Rachel M. Witt of Houston, MN at the Houston Presbyterian Church. For over 39 years Mush worked for the Minnesota Department of Transportation in the areas of surveying, construction, bridges and maintenance, retiring in 1991. He loved horses and watching his grandchildren show horses. He took pride in Ukkestad arena and enjoyed the many horse shows held there. He was a member of the Root River Saddle Club since 1970. In 2009 he and Rachel received the Southeastern Minnesota Saddle Clubs Association (SEMSCA) Horsepersons of the Year award. Mush was also a member of the Masonic Lodge for 48 years and was a member of First Presbyterian Church, Rushford.Mush was preceded in death by his parents, sisters, Ruth Ukkestad MacKimm, Anna Ukkestad Killham and Elenore Ukkestad Killham. He is survived by his wife Rachel; daughter and son- in-law Elizabeth(Ukkestad) and Allen LaFleur, Rushford ; son, Carl Ukkestad, LaCrescent, MN ; granddaughter, Julia LaFleur(Levi) Olstad ; grandson Phillip Ukkestad LaFleur and sister Thelma(Tim) Ukkestad Anderson, Rushford.Visitation will be held at Hoff Funeral Home, Rushford, MN, Thursday, April 5, 2012, 4:00 PM-8:00 PM and again for one hour prior to the funeral service. The funeral service will be 11:00 AM Friday, April 6, 2012 at First Presbyterian Church, Rushford with Pastor Kristin Rice officiating. Cremation is planned with burial and accompanying military honors at a later date at Oakwood Cemetery, (South) Rushford. Honorary pallbearers are Carl Ukkestad, Phillip LaFleur, Allen LaFleur and Levi OlstadMemorials are preferred for Oakwood Cemetery or Good Shepherd Nursing Home.Please share a memory of Mush on-line and view his Tribute Video when it becomes available, at www.hofffuneral.com.
Tribute video can be found at: videos.lifetributes.com/295400